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Terry Gicking, dressed as Santa Claus, holds Isabelle Soltero, left, and her sister Sophia, at Operation Snowflake, for military and veteran families. The holiday toy distribution takes place at the Ventura County Community Foundation in Camarillo. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR

Children sort through hundreds of stuffed animals and other items at Operation Snowflake, for military and veteran families. The Ventura County Military Collaborative gave over 300 children free toys and other goodies. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR

Isabelle Soltero and her father PO2 John Soltero, U.S. Navy, attend Operation Snowflake, for military and veteran families. In addition to the collaborative effort nonprofit and private organizations joined hands to distribute toys to the children of service members and veterans. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR

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Children sort through hundreds of stuffed animals and other items at Operation Snowflake, for military and veteran families. The Ventura County Military Collaborative gave over 300 children free toys and other goodies.(Photo: CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR)Buy Photo

Serving in the Navy for the last 16 years, Omar Navarro has missed spending Christmas with his family 14 times during his duty.

But on Saturday, Navarro was overwhelmed with emotion as he watched his two sons and wife enjoy the festivities during Operation Snowflake, a party for military families in which children of active and veteran service members had their pick from thousands of toys.

“For me, it’s like too many feelings at once,” said Navarro, of Camarillo, who was in attendance with his wife, Jhoan; as well as his two sons, Omar, 16, and Angel, 15.

“It’s great for me because I’ve been away from my family,” Navarro said. “I’ve missed so many holidays, and this is kind of like a culture shock where I’m back again. It’s like, ‘how do I participate in this?’ But it’s great because I can see how happy they are.”

Now in its fourth year, Operation Snowflake served 300 children from 130 families, said Kim Evans, founder of the Ventura County Military Collaborative, the event’s main sponsor.

Operation Snowflake is a massive effort that involves thousands of toys donated by local businesses, organizations and members of the community; as well as more than 100 volunteers who assist with families on event day.

“Every year, we’ve grown and grown – if you look at the huge line out the door, you can see there’s a huge need,” said Evans, of Camarillo. “The community came together to do this. Everything here was 100 percent donated. So it’s really a proverbial – one team, one fight.”

The festivities took place at the Ventura County Military Collaborative in Camarillo, where a room was filled with toys as well as gently used clothing for the families to choose from.

There were also representatives from military organizations on site, including Jose Perez, an outreach specialist at the Ventura Vet Center, which provides readjustment counseling services for veterans who served in combat theater.

“We also provide bereavement counseling and counseling for military sexual trauma – and all our services are free and confidential,” said Perez, of Oxnard, who served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008.

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Terry Gicking, dressed as Santa Claus, holds Isabelle Soltero, left, and her sister Sophia, at Operation Snowflake, for military and veteran families. The holiday toy distribution takes place at the Ventura County Community Foundation in Camarillo.(Photo: CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR)

Charles Green, who served in the Army from 1976 to 2002, was in attendance representing the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center.

“We’re here today to make sure we connect with the veterans and active duty to let them know we’re here – and to give them the opportunity to have access to get the benefits they earned and deserve,” said Green, chief of outreach for the center.

Representatives from Ventura College were also on site giving away soccer balls, footballs, baseballs and volleyballs to children.

“I helped start the Veterans center at Ventura College, so my heart goes out to the veterans and their families,” said Lauri Moore, of Ojai, a sociology teacher at Ventura College.

“They’ve served us and it’s our turn to serve them,” Moore said. “The ones that come back that are suffering from PTSD and can’t find a job … they need to know there are people that care about them. And this is one way of showing that we do care and that their children matter and they matter.”

Members of the 801 Motorcycle Club also volunteered earlier in the morning to carry toys into the party room.

“We brought our bikes out for the kids … and we always help Kim with anything she needs, so we did all the dirty work early carrying in stuff,” said Derik Stanley, of Oxnard, president of 801 MC.

For Cindy Ferguson, who served in the Navy for eight years, Operation Snowflake was appreciated this holiday season.

“It’s a really tough time especially because I’m retired,” said Ferguson, of Camarillo, who brought her son, Luis, 9; and her daughter, Leilani, 5. “I know it’s not just about the toys – it’s about seeing their faces light up.”

Luis and Leilani made their first stop at Toy Hill, the name of a gigantic pile of hundreds of toys.

Luis picked out a stuffed Husky, a plastic pistol and miniature Rudolph figurine; while his sister selected two fashion dolls, a tiara and a wand.

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Isabelle Soltero and her father PO2 John Soltero, U.S. Navy, attend Operation Snowflake, for military and veteran families. In addition to the collaborative effort nonprofit and private organizations joined hands to distribute toys to the children of service members and veterans.(Photo: CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR)

“I’m in charge of toy hill which is the best job here,” said Albert De La Rocha, of Camarillo, a Ventura County Military Collaborative board member and event volunteer. “It’s like a swimming pool of toys and there’s no limit; whatever the kids can grab and carry they can have it.”

“This event is for anyone who’s really in need,” De La Rocha added. “If someone feels they need support, they can come into a room like this and get toys and learn about services as well. So it’s kind of like a one-stop-shop for them to come in during the holidays.”